A great river day starts with a great home base. That's exactly what a cabana rental near Austin at Son's River Ranch gives you — a shaded riverside structure where coolers stay cold, snacks stay covered, and someone is always sitting down to rest between floats. We're 45 minutes south of downtown Austin in Kingsbury, TX, on the spring-fed San Marcos River.
What's a cabana actually for?
A riverside cabana is a covered, shaded spot on the bank with seating and access to a grill. It's where the cooler lives. It's where Grandma sits while the kids tube. It's where lunch happens. For day-trip groups coming from Austin, it turns the river from a wet, tiring afternoon into a relaxed, all-day hangout.
Who books cabanas?
- Families with little kids who need shade breaks
- Birthday and bachelorette groups from Austin who want a base camp
- Multi-gen reunions where not everyone wants to be in the water all day
- Office and church outings looking for a private hangout
What to bring
- Cooler with ice, drinks (no glass)
- Food for the grill — burgers, fajitas, you know the drill
- Tubes (or buy a wristband — see tubing)
- Sunscreen, towels, swimsuits, water shoes
- Bluetooth speaker (kept respectful — families nearby)
Pair it with tubing or kayaks
A cabana plus an Ultimate River Fun Wristband is the most popular Austin-area combo. Float as many laps as you want, walk back to the cabana for snacks, repeat. Want to paddle instead? Add a kayak from our day rentals page or read the kayaking near Austin guide.
Stay overnight, save 25%
Booking a glamping cabin or safari cabin with your cabana? Overnight guests get 25% off cabanas, kayaks and other day rentals when booked together. See current deals on Specials.
Useful links before you come
- Plan your visit — directions, check-in, what to bring
- Property map
- All day rentals
- Live San Marcos River flow (USGS)
- South Texas weather (NWS)
Looking for a similar day-rental setup further west? Our sister property Son's Blue River Camp runs cabanas on the Blanco River.
Reserve your cabana
Saturday cabanas sell out weeks in advance — book early.
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